UI Health Care first in nation to perform procedure using ARCHIMEDES biodegradable pancreatic stent
University of Iowa Health Care gastroenterologists Abdullah Abbasi, MD, Munish Ashat, MD, and Rintaro Hashimoto, MD, have performed the nation’s first procedure using ARCHIMEDES, a biodegradable pancreatic stent designed to provide a less invasive and more convenient treatment option for patients with pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and related conditions. This innovative device was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States.
For decades, patients requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat problems in the bile and pancreatic ducts, have been fitted with stents.
The stent is a small plastic or metal tube inserted into the pancreatic duct, keeping the narrowed duct open to help prevent blockages and allow pancreatic fluids to flow into the bowels. While effective, it requires an additional removal procedure 2 to 4 weeks after the insertion, adding cost, discomfort, and risk of complications.
The ARCHIMEDES biodegradable stent streamlines care and improves recovery by slowly degrading, or dissolving, eliminating the need for an additional removal procedure and reducing infection risk.
